Considering that stellastarr* began as three young artists studying at Pratt Institute, it's no surprise that the quartet's nearly four-year hiatus found the members occupied by largely non-musical pursuits.  

Chichester's regional dominance is supreme because he's a fantastic human being and even better performer. He's like a homegrown Ryan Adams with little more soul and a harmonica a la mode. His songs are rich with Midwest emotion, longing and ire, often set to swampy, bluesy guitar or piano.  

Joshua Radin never intended to become a musician, at least not outside of the confines of his personal life where he always quested for new ways to artistically express himself. Painting and screenwriting had largely occupied these efforts until 2004 when friend and singer/songwriter Cary Brothers prodded him into recording a song called “Winter” in his bedroom.  

There are plenty of things missing from 'The Last Shot' — flashy graphics, slick Hollywood production and Academy Award-winning acting, to name a few — but the people involved in it are amateurs with big dreams. What's so amazing about this new movie about teenage life filmed in the West End is the story behind the story.   

Grace Potter and her band of gypsies, the Nocturnals, channel the 1970s like they have a psychic on retainer. And yet they’re not slavish retro revivalists with no sense of identity to accompany their sonic inspiration.  

After a four-and-a-half year studio absence, the release earlier this year of Traveling was exciting news for fans of his smartass/serious Folk/Pop. His rigorous touring regimen notwithstanding, Poltz had a good reason for the gap.